The thing about a sucker punch
is that every sign is clear after the fact. Discarding of cigarette,
spreading feet in a loaded stance, the flair of nostrils as if some
imminent act requires additional oxygen; in retrospect there is no doubt
as to what comes next. Martin was in over his head this time. And it
wasn't the first time. Two beatings in as many weeks. Two collections of
contusions and abrasions scarring an already well-scarred, middle-aged
body. Not much to do but keep pushing forward, turning over rocks,
taking the battle to those who had started it in the first place. The
next time would be different; the next time he'd be armed. It was
personal, now. Someone hurts Stray and the stakes are raised. No longer
is this simply a surveillance case of a cheating spouse; now it's
personal. And that someone will pay.

COMING SPRING 2018

Hard Reset

MARTIN
GARDENS had been a mid-level corporate manager, a fiancÚ, a drunk, an
automobile mechanic, a fugitive arsonist and finally, a private
investigator. Each he pursued with earnest conviction but there was only
one in which he demonstrated natural talent. And it scared the hell out
of him. Add a stray, brindle-coat Boxer with a mangled ear that
resembled his own and a mottled British sportscar more family member
than transport, the equation equals one last chance for a fresh start;
one last chance for a hard reset. You choose a direction and it begins.
What happens next is not so much about planning as it is about luck.
Life unfolds; a path beckons. Routine and obligation and occasional joy
fill the empty places. With a little luck, even love. With a lot
of luck, happiness. The pieces fall together and you find a fit; you are
what you do. The tracks in the snow tell the story.

It takes
more than a single incident to change a person's life. It takes a single
incident, a New Year's Day parade, and one vociferous English Lab.

Writer John
Edward White wasn't intending to make a change, but circumstances forced
his hand. Marooned in a dead-end career, personal salvation was found in
the shape of industry downsizing and a televised parade for a
middle-aged man suddenly forced to confront the things that scared him
the most. With a single telephone call, White embarked on a journey that
began with a year of intense volunteering and concluded with the single
most significant change in his life. The path from pretentious,
self-centered yuppie to compassionate, self-aware citizen required a
Guide Dog puppy to teach him to see what was truly valuable. The
transition with each training session was equal part dog and man; the
result from the training was equal part success and failure. The lessons
learned and experiences shared became a compelling narrative of change
for both.